AmBank guard faces death twice

PETALING JAYA - A 36-year-old Indonesian security guard is facing death twice over after he was charged with the murder of AmBank operations manager Norazita Abu Talib and with firing the fatal shot.

La Ode Ardi Rasila (pic), who was earlier identified as a Sabahan, was accused of murdering 37-year-old Norazita at an AmBank branch in USJ Sentral, Subang Jaya, between 6pm and 6.30pm on Oct 23.

He faces the gallows if found guilty under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

La Ode was slapped with another charge of committing the scheduled offence of robbery during which he allegedly fired a shot from a pump gun with the intention of killing Norazita, an offence under Section 3 of the Firearms Act (Heavier Penalty) 1971.

This offence provides a mandatory death sentence upon conviction even if no injury was inflicted.

The accused, who was wearing a black t-shirt and pants, nodded his head and said "saya faham" (I understand) when the interpreter asked if he understood the charges against him.

No plea was recorded and no bail was offered. The accused was unrepresented.